Repeated Call for Support from Women Arts and Crafts Vendors

BY JOY OFASIA

WOMEN arts and crafts vendors who are members of the Art Gallery Vendor Association are repeatedly calling the government leaders to set up an alternative plan to support their business activities affected by the pandemic.

The business climate experienced by women vendors since the beginning of the pandemic until now is affecting their general livelihood which they say is beyond their control.

Arts and crafts vendor, Lency Gary made the outcry after the government leaders failed to honour their promises to support their struggling business activities affected by the pandemic earlier last year.

“I would like to say that we have been promised to be helped but since then there were no assistance from the government.
“We were told of meetings been held last year but yet not a single word of assurance and assistance had been echoed by our responsible government leaders.

Lency Gary who is an active member of the Kavaci Handy Craft and Arts association told Tourism Solomon that the government must intervene now, otherwise their livelihood will be devastated.
“We are calling out to our government leaders again and if they have ears and eyes, please hear our cries.

“The situation caused by the covid pandemic has been really tough for us.

“We sit down every day to sale our arts and crafts products not for our sake but the sake of our family and children’s future; the means of selling our products is our only source of survival during this tough times.

Kavaci Handy Craft and Arts association consists of more than twenty talented and skilful members with the primary aim to improve their social and economic livelihoods. The majority of the Association’s members are from the Marovo Lagoon, Western Province.

The members of the Kavachi Association have both national and international experiences where they have represented the Solomon Islands and their cultural heritage in the past to renowned regional and international festivals.